Bag fastener



Patented Get. 21, 1924- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANZ A. FULLER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSTGIIOBTO THE J. E. MERGOTT CO.,

OF NEWARK, NEW' JERSEY. A

CORPORATON 0F DELAWARE.

BAG FASTENER,

Application filed July 2S,

To all 107mm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANZ A. FULLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful vImprovements in Bag Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

The main object of this invention is to produce a fastening devicea-pplicable to the hingedlyV connected, metal frames of hand bags and like receptacles, whereby the same are efficiently held when in a closed condition, or separated for access to the interior of the bag in a ready manner.

`A further object is to provide a bag fastener of unusual simplicity, two parts and a single spring comprising the entire structure.

Another purpose is in the provision of a fastener'of neat appearance, devoid of objectionable projections7 that can be cheaply produced and easily applied.

Still another objectof the invention resides in the provision of means for retaining the proper alinement of the keeper and latch elements so that when the bag frame is closed, anyinequalities in the frame will not interfere with the proper operation of the latch in retaining the frame elements securely closed.

These and other like objects which will become evident as the description progresses, are attained by the novel design, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying. drawing, forming amaterial part of this disclosure, and in which Figure 1 .'s a top plan view showing portions of a conventional bag frame and a fastener, made in accordance with the invention, applied thereto. Y

Figure 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view showing the appearance of the fastener as assembled to one of the frame elements.

Figure 3 is a similar underside view ofthe fastener as assembled in detail. v

Figure t is a perspective view of the outer or casing element of the fastener looking from the lower side thereof.l

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the inner element prior to assembling. j f,

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view approximately at the center of the frame, showing the parts assembled and the frame fastenings, noscrews. rivets, or similar extraneous `fastening being required.

The device` which presents unusual strength combined with neatness of appear ance, is easily manipulatedr in locking or unlocking the bag and its use, unlike common forms of snap fastenings, produces no strain on the frame or its joints.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates one of the bag frame elements and 11 the other, these elements be ing as usual of the channel type of construction, having relatively flat meeting faces and are connected at their angularly bent, parallel terminals by pivots in the manner of hinges as is common.

One of these frame elements, as 11, contains, in the bight of its loop, a pair of spaced openings receptive of prongs 12 formed on the edge of a keeper bar 13, the prongs being clinched and upset in the manner of rivets holding the keeper rigidly extended longitudinally at the center of the frame element as shown in Figures 1 and 6.

The other frame element 10 is pierced tov produce a pair of slots 14 positioned in a similar manner, the slots being relatively widely spaced, and adjacent one of these slots, close to the meeting face of the frame, is a shorter slot 15.

The outer element or casing of the fastener comprises a substantially flat rectangular plate 16 having a shorter, forwardly projecting, slightly depressed extension 17. The ends 18 of the' plate are bent at right angles and also the front edges 19, which are curved to blend into the extension 17.

In a similar manner the rear edge is bent to produce a wall 2O on rwhich are formed projections 21, the corners 22 at one end being bevelled and their opposite corners 23 extended to overhang, forming in effect prongs, which, together'with the main portion of. the extensions are passed through between.

the slots 14 in the traine element 10 andiiltimately clinched against the inner surface of the channel, rigidly securing the casing thereon.

The [front edge of the extension 17' is curved lengthwise as at 2&1, the material being bent back under the extension, as at 25, and its end edges 26 prolonged nearly to the Wall 20, leaving an open space 27 there- These prongs 26 torni guides so that Vwhen the bag trame is closed,` the lkeeper 13 will be properly guided into .the space betweenthe prongs 26 and lagainst the edge 27 of. the latch element in such manner as to `cause said edge 27 to wholly enfg'age the side face ot the keeper.

Obviously such structure will insure the proper closing` and securing` of the frame though said traine may become bent or sprung out of shape through usage.

rlhel other yelement of the 'fastener coinprises a plate 28, disposed when` assembled Y onV the. plate 16 in register withthe: opening 2 7 `and having a raised bevelled vextension 249 protruding between the inner surfaces 17 and 25.

Stepped extensions 3() and v31 are formed at the ends of the plate 28, the Ysame pro-v 30 andi 31,. and khaving. their rear edgesV b ent at right' angles fcrining'walls 34, their -opposite edges being` similarly formed into.

walls 35.

The walls 34 and 35 are so spaced apart as to. closely enter the box-like structure of the casinzg` which also receives the ends ot' the elements 32 and 33 when assembled.

. the corner opening 36 and intov the slot 1l' of the 'traine element 1() when assembled, thel body'or main portion 39 offthe wire being!4 disposed between the two elements the fastener, past the .retracted edge of the plate 28v and turned at a right ang-lee() under the stepA 31and then bent reversely, the' terminal. portion 41..passing out of theV recess 37,. below, the' projection 26 at its juncture withV the rear wall 20, thusy orming a torsional spring.

1 l-n the modification shown in Fig. 7. the prongs 22 and 23 are omitted,- the wall 2O coming squarelyvinto contact with the outer surface' ort the ch-annel, prongs 42, similar in nespectsbeingormeddirectly on the elements 32 and 33, the same extending oppositely from walls 3e, or in other words, the walls 3e are bent in an opposite direction Vto that shown in Figure 5, and formed into which is then entered .into the slot 15., thel prongs 21, 23 orv vll-2 being` simultaneouslf,7 entered into the slots 1-1 and moved so that their overh:inging` portion. will engaget-he inner surface of the channel 10, whereupon the hook Yportions 23 are bent down topre.- Vent removal.

slots andl therefore permit the 1fastener to move with a swinging motion` within limits,Y

but prevent its removal.

In operation, due to the torsional. effect of the-spring, the fastener. is normally pressed intol suchnposition thatV `its underV surfaceV is.

at a right anglejwith the meeting faces of the frames, and when broughtinto forcible contact with, the keeper 13, will rise to passovei 1t and cause ittoengagefthe outer Vedgevof the opening` 2.7, thus vlockingthe traine inemf' bers together.l Y

ItV will be clearly 5seen that Vowingfto the project-ion of the prongs26rbeyond the edge 27, a pocket or recess will be formed: inthe latch element which will wholly embrace'the keeper and effectively .aline the Jiframe elements even though the saine may have be come sprung or bent out ot. shape. Y

Obviously to separate the saine'. the "fas-y tener is manually raised `to clear. the keeper' andthe parts sepzfiiiited by hand inthe usual manner.'l Y

Although the y toreqoing is descriptive ofk the preferred embodiment of the'k invention, it will be, apparent that minor changes may be madev iny its construction, without The elements 21, 22 and 23V are however relatively narrowery than thev lot the exercise ot invention or conflicting withV the scopeot the claims-hereto. appended. ,Y

Having' thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire. to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bag fastener, thecombina-tion with a pair of trames. one having'a raised keeper and the other containing a pair of spaced slots and an opening', of a tastenerconipris ing a. box-like casing; having;v an extension, said extension presenting a `curved.A` outer longitudinaledee, a' plate held in said-casing'. aspiring disposedbetween said` late and casing, said. springhaving its en l engaged in the .mentioned traine opening, means insaid fastener for engaging; said keeper, and means forinedv with said fastener engager-.ble in the slots oi"- seid treme, seid inea. permitting a limited swinging morenient out said fastener, but preventing its removal.

A bug fastener comprising a hollow eisingr` n, stepped plate held thereiin a torsional s ring disposed between said plate and easing, said spring having e. single ex tending end Adapted to engage one member trein-e. spaced prongs on said oasing am. means for securing said prongs after essen'iloljf, seid prongs permitting a limited motion to seid easing, and ineens formed with said casing adapted t0 engage a keeper en the other member ot the bag frame.

a. A heg fastener comprising in combination with a pen' of frames, one of said pted to enter slots in the tram@ frames lmving e `keeper and the other oontaining pertoretions, en elongated easing hex/'ing e liront extension, a stepped plate held in seid easing presenting a level under surface, means on the fastener engaging certain of the n'ientioned perorations whereby it may he limitedly turned outwardly. ineens in the fastener engageeole with said keeper7 end a single torsionl spring operatively engaging the other of the mentioned perfor@A tions and the fastener whereby such engagement is normally eleeted.

This specification signed and witnessed this 14th daft7 01"' July, 1921.

FRANZ A. FULLER. 

